Eternal Dose by Mike N. Stevens - HTML preview

Chapter 3

December 14 ,2022



"Grief is the price we pay for love." — Queen Elizabeth II

Ethan woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside the cabin window. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow over the room. He stretched and turned to see Liam still asleep beside him, a peaceful expression on his face. Ethan smiled, feeling a surge of love for the man who had brought so much joy into his life.

They had spent the weekend at a charming cabin in the mountains, a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It had been a weekend filled with laughter, adventure, and love. Ethan cherished every moment they had spent together, knowing that these memories would last a lifetime.

As he got out of bed and started making breakfast, he couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The smell of coffee filled the air, and he hummed a tune as he cooked. Liam eventually woke up and joined him in the kitchen, wrapping his arms around Ethan from behind.

"Good morning," Liam murmured, kissing Ethan's neck.

"Good morning," Ethan replied, leaning into the embrace. "I made us breakfast."

They sat down to eat, enjoying the simple pleasure of each other's company. After breakfast, they decided to go for one last hike before heading back to the city. The trail led them through a dense forest, the sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting dappled shadows on the ground.

As they reached a clearing with a breathtaking view of the valley below, Liam turned to Ethan with a smile. "Isn't this amazing?"

"It's beautiful," Ethan agreed, taking in the sight. "Thank you for bringing me here."

Liam wrapped an arm around Ethan's shoulders, pulling him close. "I'm glad you're here with me."

They stood there for a while, enjoying the moment and each other's company. Eventually, they continued their hike, the trail leading them to a small, secluded waterfall. The sound of the rushing water was soothing, and they decided to take a break and have a snack.

As they sat on a large rock by the water, Liam reached into his backpack and pulled out a small box. "I have something for you," he said, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

Ethan's curiosity was piqued. "What is it?"

Liam handed him the box, and Ethan carefully opened it. Inside was a beautiful silver necklace with a small, intricately designed pendant. "Liam, it's gorgeous," Ethan said, his voice filled with emotion. "Thank you."

"I wanted you to have something to remind you of this day," Liam said, his voice soft. "And to remind you of how much I love you."

Ethan felt tears welling up in his eyes. "I love you too, Liam. More than words can say."

They shared a tender kiss, their hearts beating in perfect harmony. It was a moment of pure happiness, and Ethan knew that he would cherish it forever.

The drive back to the city was filled with light-hearted banter and laughter. They talked about their future plans, their dreams, and the adventures they wanted to have together. Ethan felt a sense of contentment, knowing that he had found someone who truly understood and loved him.

As they drove down the winding mountain road, the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape. They were deep in conversation when suddenly, a deer darted out onto the road. Liam swerved to avoid it, but the car skidded on the gravel and veered off the road, crashing into a tree.

The impact was jarring, and everything went black.

Ethan woke up in a hospital bed, his body aching and his head throbbing. He looked around, disoriented and confused. The room was sterile and cold, a stark contrast to the warmth of the cabin they had just left.

A nurse entered the room, her expression sympathetic. "You're awake. How are you feeling?"

Ethan tried to speak, but his throat was dry and his voice came out as a croak. "Liam... where's Liam?"

The nurse's face fell, and she hesitated before speaking. "I'm so sorry, Ethan. Liam didn't make it."

Ethan felt his world shatter. "No," he whispered, his voice trembling. "No, that can't be true."

"I'm so sorry for your loss," the nurse said gently. "If there's anything we can do, please let us know."

Ethan couldn't process the words. Liam was gone. The love of his life, the person who had brought so much joy and happiness into his world, was gone. He felt a wave of grief wash over him, and he collapsed back onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably. The pain was unbearable, and he didn't know how he would ever get through it.

The days that followed were a blur. Ethan went through the motions, barely able to function. He couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, couldn't think. All he could do was cry and mourn the loss of the person who had meant everything to him.

Friends and family tried to offer their support, but nothing could ease the pain. Ethan felt like a part of him had been ripped away, leaving a gaping hole in his heart.

One evening, his best friend, Sarah, came over to check on him. She found him sitting on the floor of his apartment, surrounded by empty bottles of alcohol. His eyes were red and puffy from crying, and he looked like a shadow of his former self.

"Ethan, you can't keep doing this to yourself," Sarah said gently, sitting down beside him. "Liam wouldn't want you to destroy yourself like this."

Ethan looked at her, his eyes filled with anger and pain. "What do you know about what Liam would want? He's gone, Sarah. He's gone, and nothing you say can bring him back."

Sarah's heart ached for her friend. "I know you're hurting, Ethan. But drinking yourself into oblivion isn't going to help. You need to find a way to cope with this, to honor Liam's memory."

Ethan scoffed, his voice bitter. "Honor his memory? How am I supposed to do that when I can't even get out of bed in the morning? When every breath I take feels like a knife in my chest?"

Sarah reached out and took his hand, her grip firm and reassuring. "You don't have to do it alone, Ethan. We're all here for you. Let us help you through this."

Ethan pulled his hand away, his anger boiling over. "I don't need your help, Sarah. I don't need anyone. Just leave me alone."

Sarah's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded and stood up. "I'll go, but I'm not giving up on you, Ethan. I'll be here when you're ready."

As she left, Ethan felt a pang of guilt, but it was quickly overshadowed by the crushing weight of his grief. He reached for another bottle, desperate to numb the pain.

The weeks that followed were a dark and lonely time for Ethan. He isolated himself from everyone, refusing to answer calls or messages. He spent his days drinking and wallowing in his sorrow, unable to find a way out of the darkness.

One night, as he sat alone in his apartment, he heard a knock on the door. He ignored it, hoping whoever it was would go away. But the knocking persisted, growing louder and more insistent.

With a groan, Ethan stumbled to the door and opened it, only to find his parents standing there, their faces etched with worry.

"Ethan, we need to talk," his mother said, her voice trembling.

Ethan sighed and stepped aside, letting them in. "What do you want?"

His father looked around the apartment, taking in the mess and the empty bottles. "We're worried about you, son. This isn't healthy."

Ethan's anger flared. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't know that I'm a mess? But what do you expect me to do? Liam is gone, and I don't know how to live without him."

His mother reached out to touch his arm, her eyes filled with compassion. "We know you're hurting, Ethan. But you can't keep doing this to yourself. You need to find a way to move forward."

Ethan pulled away, his voice shaking with emotion. "Move forward? How am I supposed to do that when every part of me is broken? When the person I loved more than anything is gone?"

His father stepped forward, his expression stern but caring. "You have to find a way, Ethan. For your sake and for Liam's. He wouldn't want you to destroy yourself like this."

Ethan's anger gave way to despair, and he sank to the floor, tears streaming down his face. "I don't know how," he whispered. "I don't know how to go on without him."

His parents knelt beside him, wrapping their arms around him in a comforting embrace. "We'll help you, Ethan," his mother said softly. "We'll help you find a way."

The days that followed were a slow and painful process of healing. Ethan's parents stayed with him, helping him clean up the apartment and encouraging him to eat and take care of himself. They listened to him talk about Liam, sharing in his grief and offering their support.

Ethan began to see a therapist, who helped him work through his emotions and find healthy ways to cope with his loss. It was a long and difficult journey, but with the support of his loved ones, he slowly began to find his way back to life.

One evening, as he sat in his apartment, he picked up his paintbrush for the first time since the accident. The colors flowed effortlessly from his brush, and he felt a sense of inspiration and creativity that he hadn't felt in a long time.